Biggest Takeaways
Variety • • entertainment
Key Points:
- In 1992, Boyz II Men's tour manager Khalil Rountree was shot and killed during their tour with MC Hammer; Rountree also served as the group's security, protecting them from threats.
- The rise of predominantly white boy bands like Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, and 98 Degrees in the mid-1990s marked a shift in the music industry away from Black R&B groups like Boyz II Men, with Motown Records favoring white acts.
- Lou Pearlman, manager of both Backstreet Boys and NSYNC, exploited the bands financially by taking excessive percentages of earnings and controlling contracts, leading to lawsuits from both groups.
- Several band members and associates revealed disturbing accounts of Pearlman's inappropriate and predatory behavior, including allegations of sexual misconduct and manipulation during the making of bands like O-Town.
- Former boy band members have spoken openly about struggles with mental health, substance abuse, and personal hardships following their fame, with some, like AJ McLean and Ashley Parker Angel, overcoming addiction and trauma.
